Verizon Helps Lone Star College System Secure Its IT Infrastructure and Implement New Security Policies

HOUSTON - With identity theft and computer crimes continuing to surge nationwide, no college or university wants to be vulnerable to a security breach. The Lone Star College System is working with Verizon to help prevent such an event.

Lone Star -- the second-largest community college system in Texas, with more than 85,000 students at five colleges in the Houston area -- turned to Verizon for help in improving the colleges' information technology security to protect its network and the confidentiality of the data in the educational community.

Verizon security consultants conducted a vulnerability assessment of Lone Star's internal, external and wireless networks and internal servers. To address the vulnerabilities that the assessment uncovered, Verizon consultants developed a formal security framework based on the ISO 27000 industry security standard, which provides a model for Lone Star to manage, monitor and align its security controls.

Additionally, Lone Star asked Verizon to devise a program that formally establishes the security policies and best practices for Lone Star to better safeguard the integrity of its systems and the confidentiality of the data in the educational community.

"We are currently consolidating and upgrading our IT resources across five campuses and security - along with the confidentiality and integrity of our systems -- is key to that initiative," said Link Alander, Lone Star's associate vice chancellor of campus technology services. "With Verizon's help, we put new safeguards in place for our wireless network. The ability to bring in outside experts to strengthen the security environment was extremely beneficial, and the ability to develop specific security policies gives us greater peace of mind."

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 94.1 million customers nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 194,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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